Awesome books about bags

Really Awesome Books About Bags

While doing some research about bags, I came across many many books. Here is a curated list that covers collections of bags, tutorials on how to sew bags and ends with a great book about textiles. You'll find a bit of history, culture, design, technique and inspiration to get you sewing some great bags. 

• Cultural History and Influence of Bags-
  
  
  • Fifty Bags That Changed the World by Design Museum
    Ok, you really, really have to check out this book. If you love bags, love to sew bags, or just like to check out the iconic designs that in one way or another impacted the world of design, this a book not to be missed.
    
  • Bags: A Selection from the Museum of Bags and Purses, Amsterdam by Sigrid Ivo
    
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    Handbags: The Making of a Museum by Judith Clark (Editor), Claire Wilcox, Adam Phillips, Amy de la Haye, Caroline Evans
    
    The two books above, Bags and Handbags, present bag collections curated by design museums. These books explore human cultures' influence in the creation of bags through the eyes of the desing world. They also present a chronology of not just the bag design, but also how history dignates in many instances the use and form of bags.
    
  • Handbags: The Power of the Purse by Anna Johnson
    This little book packs in a lot of great photos and information. Although 'handbags' seem to be focused on the women's market, there are several bags here that can be modified to appeal to others.

• How to Sew Books- While I do not fancy all of the bags in all of these books, each book has a lot going for it. There are a lot of useful techniques, as well as ideas on which materials to use, and how to modify patterns. After all, clothes are not the only things that can (and perhaps should) be custom fitted.
  
  • Sew What! Bags: 18 Pattern-Free Projects You Can Customize to Fit Your Needs by Lexie Barnes
    
  • Simply Irresistible Bags: 45 Designs for Going Out, Looking Chic, and Shopping Green by Marie Claire Magazine (Creator), Marie Claire Idees
    
  • The Perfect Handmade Bag: Recycle and Reuse to Make 35 Beautiful Totes, Purses, and More (Paperback) by Clare Youngs
    
  • Free-Style Handmade Bags & Skirts [With Patterns] by Woongjin Publishing
    
• Inspirational Ideas and Techniques- These next three books have really fun ideas and techniques for sewing bags as well as for other accessories that can go inside (or outside) bags. I have learned that even books that are not strictly about bags, can pack some great information and inspiration in the areas of sewing techniques and design.
  
  
  
  • Zakka Style: 24 Projects Stitched with Ease to Give, Use & Enjoy by Rashida Coleman-Hale
    
  • Sew & Stow: 31 Fun Sewing Projects to Carry, Hold, and Organize Your Stuff, Your Home, and Yourself! by Betty Oppenheimer
    
  • Improv Sewing: A Freeform Approach to Creative Techniques; 101 Fast, Fun, and Fearless Projects: Dresses, Tunics, Scarves, Skirts, Accessories, Pillows, Curtains, and More by Nicole Blum, Debra Immergut
    
    
    
• Reference Books- Now, this last one is an awesome reference book. It is basically a catalog of textiles with information including how to cut it, which thread to use for sewing it, what size of needle, which presser foot to use for sewing, how to press it, and much more.
  • More Fabric Savvy: A Quick Resource Guide to Selecting and Sewing Fabric by Sandra Betzina, Bob La Pointe (Illustrator), Jennifer Peters (Editor)

So there you have it! A handful of books to browse through, get ideas and well, learn from. Share with us the titles of your favorite books and photos of the bags that you design and make! We look forward to having an awesome reference library at 42 and make it available to all of you.

KQ

Originally published 7/11/13